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Some celebrities go back to school after they become famous — and some teach college courses. More than just “stunt casting,” though, these celebrities take their roles as “professors” very seriously. They hold office hours, design full curriculums and throw themselves head-first into the work they do for the next generation of leaders. Sometimes, too, the celebrities who teach these college courses are living legends all on their own. For example, AfroTech recently reported about Grandmaster Flash, the Hip-Hop pioneer, teaching courses at the University of Buffalo. He’s also an artist in residency at the school in upstate New York. “The residency at UB gives me a chance to tell Hip-Hop’s whole story. The sights. The sounds. The places and the moments,” he said, according to the University of Buffalo. “It’s important that we get this history right. For the next generation to take music and art in new directions, they have to know where that music and art came from, who made it and...
On a mission to inspire the future generation of Black kids in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM), Dr. Calvin Mackie is building an unshakable foundation down South in Bayou State. Dr. Mackie has involved himself in the STEM field for over three decades, acquiring bachelor of science degrees from Morehouse College and Georgia Tech, where he also acquired a master of science and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. Dr. Mackie’s next steps would land him at Tulane University, where he would make history serving as the only African American to receive tenure status as a professor in 2002. Unfortunately, following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Tulane made the difficult decision to discontinue its engineering program. Walking into a new season pre-maturely, Dr. Mackie made the conscious decision to continue his purpose in New Orleans, to make a difference in his community. In his spirit, he recognized there was unfinished business that he needed to take care of.
Drake and the Weeknd are Canadian powerhouses that have made their presence globally known. The music icons will be sharing a new stage together at X University — set to be renamed Ryerson University by Jan. 31, 2022 — for a class titled “Deconstructing Drake and the Weeknd” in their hometown of Toronto. The course will be taught by Hip-Hop expert, podcaster and writer Dalton Higgins who serves as a music professor in residence at the school, NOW Toronto reports. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dalton Higgins (@daltonhiggins5) “I was pushing Hip Hop Pedagogy in high schools, writing chapters and lesson plans for various hip hop textbooks,” Higgins said in an Instagram post. “But the real fun & deep learning has only really just begun as I’ll be teaching a course about two Toronto-born music titans; Drake & The Weeknd in early 2022.” He continued: “It’s time to get our Canadian rap & R&B icons recognized & canonized academically or otherwise. And it is CRITICAL for...
It was not a typical school day for the students attending McNair Middle School Thursday afternoon as Atlanta rapper Gunna made a surprise appearance to share exciting news. Thanks to him and Goodr founder Jasmine Crowe, over 900 students at his childhood school will now have access to an exclusive grocery and clothing store, Gunna’s Drip Closet, in which every item will be available free of charge. “He’s providing a way of life for these families and this is something that is legendary,” Crowe said to CBS46. “I don’t think anything like this has been done before in the city of Atlanta.” In addition to support from heavy hitter Gunna, the closet was built in three days thanks to additional help from Footlocker and Reebok, and of course, Goodr. As AfroTech previously reported, the food waste startup reroutes meals from cafeterias and restaurants to provide meals to those in need. Families can select food, clothing, and hygiene products through Goodr’s application and website. Plus,...
It’s no secret that Grandmaster Flash is one of Hip-Hop’s greatest pioneers. He made his introduction in the early 1970s alongside the streets and parks of New York’s South Bronx, mastering DJing, cutting, scratching, and mixing. His momentum and popularity soared when he started his own group, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five , blending and producing music in an unconventional manner leading them to score various hits. In 2021, he’s paying it forward as the music connoisseur will now be embracing a new venture as an artist in residency at the University of Buffalo. “The residency at UB gives me a chance to tell Hip-Hop’s whole story. The sights. The sounds. The places and the moments,” DJ Flash said, according to University of Buffalo. “It’s important that we get this history right. For the next generation to take music and art in new directions, they have to know where that music and art came from, who made it and how.” As a part of his residency, t he Hip-Hop trailblazer...